Easier than you think. As YouTube has proven, even little kids can pick a lock. Make sure that your deadbolt isn't dead-easy to crack open. The DIY experts at Stack Exchange offer answers on keeping your deadbolt locked tight.

Answer: How Secure Is Your Deadbolt?

In general, a professional is going to be able to open anything you have, because that's what they do all day. The reality though is that with the exception of high security locks like Medeco, it doesn't even take a professional to open them. But you ask about a deadlock, so let me provide some background...

A deadbolt is more about resisting kicking open or using a credit card to slide in and raise the bolt. It's not so much about being harder to pick, as the lock mechanism in it is going to be extremely similar to a normal door handle lock.

The things that really matter in a normal (not a high-security lock) are how tight the tolerances are, and how many pins. For example, the 6 pin Kwikset Titans (aka UltraMax) are quite a bit harder to pick than the 5 pin regular Kwiksets, and a Schlage 5 pin is harder than a Kiwkset 5 pin. But they both are dramatically easier to pick than a Medeco which has additional features to make it much harder to pick.

Answer: Quick Tips to Prevent Lock Picking

- Keep the lock well lubricated. This prevents some of the pins from becoming stuck at the shear line (meaning that they are effectively already picked).

- Install the lock upside down, so the jaggy side of the key goes in facing down instead of up. A locksmith friend of mine said he found they are harder to pick upside down, and my experience is the same.

Beyond getting a better lock (higher quality, more pins, higher security design), these may be alternatives for slowing someone down.